Pregnancy‐related venous thromboembolism risk perception and prevention in risk‐averse times - Significant change required: A commentary

Magee, Laura A.; Arya, Roopen; Boag, Clare; Buxton, Luci; Coleman, Matthew A.; Jivraj, Fizzah; Scott, Rebecca; Sheen, Kayleigh; Silverio, Sergio A.; von Dadelszen, Peter

Abstract

Between 2020 and 2022 in the United Kingdom (UK), there were 45 maternal deaths from venous thromboembolism (VTE), out of more than 2 million maternities. This occurred despite extensive risk assessment and prescribing of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) thromboprophylaxis, alongside clinicians' overestimate of risk and commitment to the cause. Whilst every maternal death is a tragedy, the challenge ahead is immense—to identify, in an efficient and consistent way, those few women at risk of life‐threatening thrombosis, and then minimise that risk with a cost‐effective therapy that is acceptable to pregnant and postpartum women, and does not do more harm than good. We propose a way forward.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 8, 2025
• Online Publication Date: May 21, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jun 25, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 25, 2025
• Journal: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
• Print ISSN: 1471-0528
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.18229
• Keywords: haematology, risk perception, maternity services, venous thromobemolism
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/14465344